"Exhilarating, isn’t it? Fun, right?"
Lin Fan dragged Chen Zhiyu away from the scene of the incident, sparks flying, lightning crackling—he was fast.
Chen Zhiyu’s eyes were wide open. "Junior Brother, you hit him! You didn’t even say anything beforehand."
"Don’t overthink it. Just answer me—wasn’t it thrilling?" Lin Fan felt his blood boiling, his heart racing. This was his first time running after punching someone—it was a completely different feeling from killing them outright.
"Thrilling? Thrilling for sure, just... I didn’t have time to process it," Chen Zhiyu admitted, still dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected his Junior Brother to be so impulsive, striking so swiftly. Not only was the crowd caught off guard; even he’d been unable to react in time.
Lin Fan chuckled. "That’s the point. Senior Brother, you said earlier that if we run into disciples from Zhen Tian Peak, we shouldn’t hesitate to hit them. So your Junior Brother did just that."
"It was mainly because that guy was way too arrogant. How dare he insult you, Senior Brother? Tell me, how could I tolerate that?"
Chen Zhiyu opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But after hearing Lin Fan’s reasoning, he had no words to counter. His Junior Brother had acted on his behalf, after all. The incident wasn’t baseless—it was partially his fault too.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t hit him, but trouble would inevitably follow.
"Junior Brother, come back to Xuanjian Peak with me first. I’ll handle this. Don’t worry, I guarantee nothing will happen," Chen Zhiyu said resolutely. Whether or not he could actually manage it was irrelevant. As the Senior Brother, he needed to step up. So what if he had to keep up appearances? Who cared if it was a bluff?
This matter needed to be relayed to Brother Yang.
He wasn’t confident he could shoulder it alone.
Damn, this was exhausting.
In hindsight, he shouldn’t have told his Junior Brother to "feel free to hit" anyone. Look where it got them—headache central.
"Alright, Junior Brother trusts Senior Brother. With you around, what could possibly happen? Even if they come looking for trouble, what’s the worst that can happen? We’re not afraid."
Lin Fan knew things wouldn’t resolve this easily. Honestly, he kind of wanted to provoke them. Otherwise, just because they’re Zhen Tian Peak disciples, should they always get a free pass?
Sometimes building up a bit of conflict could influence what happens later.
The Sect’s marketplace streets.
Yang Gang was picking out an item for Junior Brother Lin—not for any other reason but to make amends. The misunderstanding with Junior Brother Lin and the harsh words he’d said before—it was all inexcusable.
Every time he thought about it, his heart ached.
"This Flowing Light Saber is only a hundred Spirit Stones! Really, it’s not expensive at all. A middle-grade magical treasure that, with enough materials, could be refined into a top-grade one. If you’re lucky, it might even ascend to being a Spiritual Treasure. At that point, the value would be mind-blowing," the hawking disciple at the stall enthusiastically promoted.
"I know it’s not expensive. Can you give me a moment to calm myself down?" Yang Gang replied.
Sure enough, for a middle-grade magical weapon, one hundred Spirit Stones wasn’t bad—it was worth the price.
But Yang Gang only received ten Spirit Stones a month as an allowance. Even with pinching every penny, he’d only saved up barely over a hundred. Buying this would nearly empty him out.
He gritted his teeth.
"Fine, I’ll take it," Yang Gang decided. He fished out his Spirit Stones, thinking about how Junior Brother, after enduring such verbal lashes from him, still treated him decently.
Now, spending some material wealth on a gift? What of it?
Yang Gang placed the Flowing Light Saber in a box, ready to deliver it to his Junior Brother. Just then, he overheard a conversation between passersby.
"Just now, Xuanjian Peak’s Chen Zhiyu and some disciple were near Zhen Tian Peak, and that unknown disciple went and beat up King Zhao Xian. What do you think Zhen Tian Peak is going to do in response?"
"Who knows? But if I know King Zhao Xian well, he’ll definitely demand a duel on the Life and Death Platform."
Yang Gang’s expression changed drastically at these words. Without wasting another moment, he hurried off.
Isn’t Junior Brother Lin with Junior Brother Chen?
How in the world did they get into a conflict with Zhen Tian Peak?
Xi Xi was pacing back and forth anxiously, worry evident on her face. "What do we do? What should we do? No, I must inform Senior Sister!"
"Wait." Lin Fan stopped Xi Xi. "Senior Sister, there’s no need to panic. We don’t even know the whole story yet. Wouldn’t running off to tell Senior Sister seem like we’re making a big deal out of nothing? Let’s wait until they come knocking first."
"Junior Brother, you’re too impulsive! But you did brilliantly this time. Zhen Tian Peak has been bullying people for far too long—they deserved to be taught a lesson. Even if Senior Sister finds out, she won’t blame you for stirring up trouble," Xi Xi said.
Still, she worried—what if they forced Junior Brother Lin onto the Life and Death Platform? That stage determined true victory and defeat, often ending in death. Once you stepped onto it, the sect wouldn’t intervene.
It was meant for grudges so severe they could only end in life or death duels.
"Ah, Senior Sister Xi, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t taken Junior Brother near Zhen Tian Peak, none of this would’ve happened," Chen Zhiyu muttered.
Lin Fan hadn’t expected them to be so worked up. Honestly, it wasn’t that big a deal.
He was calm—peaceful, even.
In fact, he was getting some ideas about the Life and Death Platform.
It seemed there could be some strategic uses for it down the line...
Just then, Yang Gang came rushing over, clutching a box. Before he even arrived, his scolding voice rang out. "Junior Brother Chen! Weren’t you just taking Junior Brother Lin for a tour around the sect? How did it come to this—him clashing with Zhen Tian Peak?!"
"Brother Yang, this isn’t Junior Brother Chen’s fault. The situation was at the time..." Lin Fan proceeded to repeat everything King Zhao Xian had said verbatim.
Yang Gang’s face turned ashen, his teeth grinding audibly. "Zhen Tian Peak has gone too far this time! A mere disciple dared to insult Senior Sister? I..."
Before he could finish, his anger surged, and he nearly smashed the box in his hand to vent his rage.
But then he recalled the item inside and clung to it tightly.
If it broke, all his money would be wasted.
"Let’s not panic just yet," Yang Gang said. "We’ll wait to see how Zhen Tian Peak responds." He then handed the box to Lin Fan, saying, "Junior Brother, here’s a gift I just bought for you. See if you like it."
"Brother Yang, you’re being too generous," Lin Fan remarked.
Yang Gang laughed. "Generosity? What generosity? Just take it."
After a few polite refusals, Lin Fan accepted it—after all, only a fool would refuse a gift.
When Lin Fan opened the box, his eyes widened—he could instantly tell the item was extraordinary.
Xi Xi gasped. "Wow, that’s a middle-grade magical treasure! Brother Yang, you’re incredible!"
Yang Gang explained, "The Flowing Light Saber—a middle-grade magical treasure. Junior Brother, do you like it? Don’t worry about the cost. Only if you accept it will I feel at ease."
Suddenly, Xi Xi seemed to realize something, her eyes darting between Yang Gang and Lin Fan.
"Wait a second," she asked, "Brother Yang, Junior Brother Lin—when did you two get so chummy? Wasn’t there some misunderstanding before?"
Her sudden realization made her seem a bit slow.
Yang Gang looked somewhat embarrassed as he replied, "Junior Sister, you said it yourself—it was a misunderstanding. How could I not resolve it? If I didn’t, what kind of Senior Brother would I be?"
"Right, Junior Brother?"
Lin Fan nodded in strong agreement. "Exactly, Brother Yang couldn’t have said it better. And don’t worry—since you’ve gone out of your way for my sake, of course I’ll accept this gift."
He refrained from taking out his Green Toad Saber—it might’ve been recognized.
After all, a disciple of the Heavenly Immortal Sect undercover at the Taiwu Immortal Sect wouldn’t draw attention, would they?
Pfft! Not undercover.
He was just here to eliminate someone, disguised for the mission, that’s all.
At that moment, a voice echoed from outside Xuanjian Peak.
"Meng Qingyao! How will you explain this matter?"
"I demand your Junior Brother ascend the mountain and face mine on the Life and Death Platform. If he refuses, let him kneel and apologize to my Junior Brother."
The voice soon faded as if it had never been there at all.
Yang Gang and the others wore grim expressions.
They hadn’t expected such a swift response, and for Ye Zhen Tian himself to speak. Instantly, they all glanced worriedly at Lin Fan—the situation had taken a troublesome turn.
But to Lin Fan, this was perfect.
PS: This will be all for now—writing more tomorrow. Updates won’t skip, rest assured.
PS: Asking for monthly votes. The new book’s just launched—a few votes would mean the world. Thanks!